THE

LIFE AND OPINIONS

OF

JOHN DE WYCLIFFE, D.D.

Illustrated principally from his

UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPTS;

WITH A

PRELIMINARY VIEW OF THE PAPAL SYSTEM, AND OF THE STATE
OF THE PROTESTANT DOCTRINE IN EUROPE, TO THE
COMMENCEMENT OF THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY.

BY

ROBERT VAUGHAN.

VOL. II.

LONDON:

B. J. HOLDSWORTH,

18, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH-YARD.

HATCHARD AND SON,

PICCADILLY.

LONDON:

PRINTED BY S. HOLDSWORTH, 13, PATERNOSTER ROW.

CONTENTS.

THE LIFE OF WYCLIFFE.

CHAPTER I.

PAGE.

Origin and effects of the Papal Schism-Wycliffe's tract "On the Schism
of the Popes," and other references to that event-His work on
"The Truth and Meaning of Scripture"-His sickness at Oxford, and
recovery--Importance attached by him to Preaching-His laborious
attention to it-Reasons of his particular reverence for that exercise
-History of Preaching-Character of Wycliffe's manuscript dis-
courses-Extracts-illustrating his manner of exposing the errors and
disorders of the ecclesiastical system-and of inculcating the suffi-
ciency of Scripture, the right of private judgment, the doctrines
peculiar to the Gospel, and the various obligations, and the means
conducing, to religious devotedness.

CHAPTER II.

History of attempts toward a translation of the Scriptures into the lan-

guage of this country before the age of Wycliffe-By the Anglo-Saxon

Clergy-By the Anglo-Norman-Wycliffe's purpose as embracing a

translation of the whole volume, and its general circulation, strictly

a novelty-This affirmed by Knighton-Some circumstances favor-

able to this enterprise-Extracts exhibiting the Reformer's manner

of defending this effort-The insurrection of the Commons-A Nar-

rative of its Causes and Character-Similar Convulsions in other States

at the same period

37

CHAPTER III.

PAGE.

Transubstantiation-Opposed by Berengarius—and by the Vaudois and

Albigenses-Not Recognized by the Anglo-Saxon Church-Defended

by Lanfranc, and espoused by the Anglo-Norman Clergy-Wycliffe's

opposition to it-Severe penalties denounced on all who should favor

his opinions concerning it-His appeal to the civil power for pro-

tection-His feeling under these persecutions - Analysis of his

"Wicket"-Proceedings of Courtney, and the Synod at the Grey

Friars-Wycliffe favored by the University-State of parties in the

nation unfriendly to the efforts of the Reformer's-Inquisitorial Statute

obtained by the Clergy-Notice of Robert Rigge, Dr. Hereford,

Reppington, Ashton, and others.

72

CHAPTER IV.

Persecution-Sketch of its History-Wycliffe's devotional allusion to

the evils of his time-Summary of his Complaint addressed to the King

and Parliament-Effect of that appeal-The Reformer is forsaken by

Lancaster-His purposes unaltered by that event-His vigorous per-

ception of the bearings of the controversy respecting the Eucharist,

and his confidence of ultimate success-He appears before the Con-

vocation at Oxford-Substance of his Confession-Perplexity of his

Judges-He retires to Lutterworth-His Letter to the Pontiff......

CHAPTER V.

State of the Reformed Doctrine on the Continent during the age of Wy-

cliffe-Causes of the protection frequently afforded to its disciples

by the secular nobility-Probable motives of the Duke of Lancaster

in patronizing Wycliffe-The Reformer is favored by the Duke of

Gloucester, and the Queen Mother-Anne of Bohemia-Sketch of the

Religious History of Bohemia-Farther notice of Wycliffe's more dis-

tinguished partisans-Geoffry Chaucer-Influence of Poetry on the

Reformation of the Church-Notice of St. Amour-Of the Roman de

la Rose-And of Robert Longland

CHAPTER VI.

Number of Wycliffe's disciples-The Lollards consisted of two classes -

Notice of John of Northampton-Prospects of the Reformers under

Richard the Second-Testimony of Knighton respecting the number

and the character of Wycliffe's followers-Analysis of the Plowman's

Tale-Theological opinions of the disciples of Wycliffe-Character of

his "Poor Priests"-Analysis of the tract "Why Poor Priests have

no Benefices"-Notice of William Thorp

111

144

183

CHAPTER VII.

PAGE.

Notice of Wycliffe's Writings subsequent to his exclusion from Oxford-

His Trialogus-On Obedience to Prelates-On the Deceits of Satan

and of his Priests-On the Duty of Lords-Of Servants and Lords-

Of Good Preaching Priests-On the Four Deceits of Antichrist—

On the Prayers of Good Men-Of Clerks Possessioners-Rise of the

Crusade against the Avignon Pope, and its Failure-Wycliffe renews

his Contest with the Mendicants-His Treatise on the Sentence of the

Curse Expounded-On Prelates and other Subjects-His Sentiments

on War-Extracts from his Sermons-His Sickness and Death...... 207

CHAPTER VIII.

THE OPINIONS OF WYCLIFFE.

-

Summary

of His Beliefs

Design of the Chapter-The doctrine of Wycliffe respecting the Pope's

Temporal Power-The secular exemptions of the Clergy-The general

authority of the Magistrate- The limits of that authority-The

obligations of the Magistrate with respect to the Church-The cus-

toms of patronage-Tithes and Ecclesiastical Endowments-The

principles of the Reformer's theory derived in part from the existing

system-His reverence for the Priestly Office-His judgment of the

Contemporary Priesthood-A summary of his doctrine relating to the

civil establishment of Christianity and Clerical Revenue-His opi-

nions relating to Simony-The spiritual power of the Pope-The

Hierarchy-The Religious Orders-The nature of a Christian Church

-The Power of the Keys-Purgatory and Masses for the Dead-The

Invocation of Saints-The Worship of Images-Confession-The Doc-

trine of Indulgences-The Celibacy of the Clergy—The Sacraments—

Transubstantiation-Public Worship-Sufficiency of the Scriptures,

and the Right of Private Judgment--A Summary of his Theological

Doctrine

...

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